Georgia O’Keeffe Flowers

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Georgia O’Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

Georgia O’Keeffe is an amazing artist and perfect for kids to learn from. While in art school, we did a quick study of Georgia O’Keeffe Flowers. They are large, often extending off the page, colorful and slightly abstract.

Georgia O'Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

Before we started I showed the kids a few of her paintings on line, then set out the oil pastels and watercolors. I love this combination of mediums. Oil pastels are easy for kids to color with and the watercolor wash makes everything pop.

Georgia O'Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

The kids out lined their flowers with a black oil pastel before adding watercolor.  They look super cute at this point. Georgia O'Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

Next the kids painted with watercolors to fill in the white spaces.  The oil pastels will resist the watercolor.

Georgia O'Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

These cheerful flowers were a gift to the kids grandparents.  They have 3 large frames in their kitchen that are set aside just for their grand kids art work.  So special.  The kids thought that since their flowers were to hang together, they should look similar.  Funny!  I did convince them that different color backgrounds would make them stand out.  I love how kids minds work and they do look great hanging altogether. We have been doing a lot of art with oil pastels and watercolor lately, time to try some new techniques:)

Looking for more Flower Art inspiration?  Check out our:

Spring Tree

Blossoming Cherry Tree

Giant Paper Poppies

Colorful Light Ray Cross

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Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel

We love creating all kinds of fun Easter crafts for kids.  This simple Easter Cross is a beautiful reminder of what Easter really means amongst all the egg hunting, bunnies and easter baskets.

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

Materials Needed:

  • White Card Stock
  • Blue Painters Tape
  • Oil Pastels
  • Water colors

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

Cut a cross shape out of any regular weight paper from your recycling bin. It will be discarded so it does not have to be pretty.
Place the cross on a scrap piece of paper and have the kids color the edges with oil pastels. A thick line works the best. I also encouraged my kiddos to use a variety of colors on each side.

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

Gently stick the cross to the card stock with a piece of painters tape. Using one finger rub the oil pastel off the cross onto the white card stock creating colorful rays. The smaller fingers in our preschool co-op had a bit of trouble with this step, but with encouragement and assistance they did a great job! Remove the cross to reveal a beautiful outline. So pretty!

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

The hill with grass was done with the same technique only using green shades of oil pastels.  Tape the hill down first they the cross to create depth.

Apply a light wash of watercolor to the sky and hill.  The oil pastels will resist the watercolor creating a beautiful finished piece.  I love it!

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

For more Easter inspiration, check out our:

Borax Easter Crystals

Paper Plate Sheep

Egg Carton Cross

Funny Bunny Faces Game

Paper Chicks for cutting practice

Easter Decoration Revamp

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Easter Decoration Revamp

I am gearing up for this Saturday for my annual Easter party.  The kids are so excited.  In preparation for our fun filled morning, I have been busy revamping some of my easter decorations.  I thought I would give you a peek at what I have been working on.  Most of the projects are using things I already had, so very little money was spent which I love.

This sweet bunny went for hot pink to white and mossy.

I sprayed him white and then stuffed him full of moss.  SO much better!

Painted Plastic Easter Eggs

These plastic eggs were the target of my next transformation.

Easter Decoration Revamp ~ Transform your plastic eggs into something beautiful with this simple DIY tutorial.

 

I used gesso applied with a pallet knife to add texture.  Then I painted, glazed and speckled the eggs.  They are perfect nestled in a white wire basket with moss.  You would never know that they were once colorful plastic eggs.  If you are interested in how I painted the eggs, you can check out a similar tutorial I did for these eggs.

 

Easter Decoration Revamp ~ Transform your plastic eggs into something beautiful with this simple DIY tutorial.

 

 

Chalkboard Easter Egg:

 

I next attacked two over sized lime green eggs.  I found them at the thrift store for 80 cents.  When I bought these wonderful eggs, Annika (my 4 year old) questioned what we were going to do with them.  There always has to be a skeptic!  Ha!

Here it is one all covered in moss.  So much better.

And the last one I covered in chalkboard paint and made it into a cute topiary tree.  I love my chalkboard pens, they are so fun to work with.  Thanks Dad and Mom 🙂

Easter Tree:

I love easter trees.  This one has been around for a number of years, but it is always getting tipped over.  I went on a mission to make it stable. Sorry, I forgot to take a before picture.  I combined the tree with a metal container and some moss.  I love how it turned out.  I painted and glazed the container, added a piece of wood for height and covered the whole thing in moss.  Quick, easy and stable.  I’m so glad that I don’t have to crawl under any furniture this year looking for missing eggs!

Now I just have to get the rest of the house ready for the party.  I love crafting and get lost in it.  However, there comes a point when I have to put down my paint brush and glue gun and get cleaning.  There will be 17 kiddos running around gathering eggs and dying eggs on Saturday do you think they will notice if I don’t wash my floors 😉

Coffee Sack Art

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DIY Kitchen Art for the Coffee Lover ~ Coffee Sack Art

Here is a sneak peek at what I am creating over at Inspired Home Style.  Its one of the simplest projects we have made, and the best part it was completely free.  Seriously, how cool is that!

Hop on over to Inspired Home Style to see how we made our simple kitchen art!

Coffee Sack Art ~ DIY wall decor for your kitchen

Ready for a little secret…that won’t be a secret for long…I’m starting a new blog!

I have been dreaming about this for a while and I am finally taking the plunge!  Seriously I can’t even believe it!

You maybe wondering…what will be happening to Housing A Forest?

It will stay the same.  It is my favorite place to share all things kid related.  However, Inspired Home Style (my new blog), is where I will be sharing how we are slowly making our House our Home.  I would love for you to hop on over and check it out.  Inspired Home Style is band new, so a few friendly faces on our new Facebook page would really make my day!

Spring Specimen Art

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Spring is in the air!  The birds are chirping and the grass is starting to turn green again.  This is one of my favorite seasons.  Although, now I need to get ontop of my spring cleaning.  However, instead of cleaning…I’m playing with my glue gun and a little burlap.  My happy place.

You can find the full instructions for these little cuties over at Inspired Home Style.

Spring Specimen Art ~ Burlap Birds

You won’t believe how easy and frugal they are to make.  If you are into burlap as much as I am, then make sure to check out our simple Coffee Sack Art.  2 simple DIY home decor projects that you can make in a weekend.